Connecting Faith and Conservation? (11 answers)

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USAID has released a White Paper, “From Practice to Policy to Practice: Connecting Faith and Conservation in Africa” at http://www.rmportal.net/library/content/from-practice-to-policy-to-practice-connecting-faith-and-conservation-in-africa/ . In an effort to better engage faith communities in conservation in sub-Saharan Africa, the Paper explores the current practices of connecting faith and conservation, provides information on the faith groups doing conservation work, and presents several examples on faith-based conservation.

We hope that wider distribution of this White Paper will stimulate interest in faith and conservation of natural resources in Africa. We have also posted it on the African Biodiversity Collaborative Group’s (ABCG) new Faith & Conservation in Africa website at http://frameweb.org/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=6823&lang=en-US . Please pass the document on to your colleagues.

Can you tell me about any additional programs that are connecting faith and conservation? Please post your comments, ideas, and information about additional projects here or send them directly to me at amygambrill@gmail.com.

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We have been working with a number of partners in the public, private, and church sector on a program to market palms to protestant churches for thier Palm Sunday services. The communities we work with in Guatemala and Mexico have developed sustainable management plans for palm production and harvest from both natural populations and planted systems. Our market has grown from 5,000 stems in 2005 to over 800,000 stems this year with a per stem rebate returned to the communities. The effort is aimed a adding value to existing forest areas where the palms are gathered so the forest will be maintained rather than converted to another use. I would be glad to provide additional information if anyone is interested. When we surveyed congregations about whether social or environmental issues were of greatest interest, the majority stated that they had equal importance.

Best,

Dean Current, Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management. University of Minnesota.

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Mar 17, 2011

In Abaco island in the Bahamas, I have been working with lobster fishermen to reduce illegal fishing of juvenile lobsters. During my baseline research, I found out that fishermen trust religious leaders as key influencers. Along with my organization, Friends of the Environment, I launched a social marketing campaign to reduce this threat. One of the campaign materials produced was a religious poster targeted at the christian community. Also in 2010, 2 days prior to the opening season of lobsters, I organized a prayer time with fishermen by the sea. A pastor read scriptures from the bible and the fishermen along with pastors all joined hands and prayed at the seaside. They remembered those lost by sea and prayed for a succesful fishing season. These posters have been spotted all over the island and in talking with the community many of them believe that conservation is heavily influenced by persons respect and belief in God and that they are mandated from God to protect our natural resources.

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Mar 17, 2011

Try "Interfaith Power and Light. A Religious Response to Global Warming" at http://action.interfaithpowerandlight.org . This is an interdenominational, nationwide group that strives to bring together people of faith to address global warming and other environmental issues.

Additionally, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has the Green Sanctuary movement, which accredits UU churches around North America as "Green Sanctuary Churches" based on their fulfilling the requirements of the UUA for this designation. You can get information re this group at uua.greensanctuary@uua.org . Additional information on this effort can be obtained from the UU Ministry for Earth at office@uuministryforearth.org .

Best regards.

Carl Gallegos

-- Updated Jul 27, 2012 --

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Mar 18, 2011

Dear Carmen,

In Malawi, we have some faith based organizations that are engaging their followers in conservation, emphasizing the need for the faithful to respect God's creation for human survival (originates from Genesis Chapter 1.0 in the Bible.

I have also read something about the Archibishop of Liverpool; Right Reverend James Jones who is advocating the connection of conservation and faith. You may wish to check or write him directly. See the links below.

University of Birmingham's international development department runs an international web resource on faith and development accessible from the link inline below which has a wealth of academic and practical research on the relationships between several world religions, poverty reduction. and development in low-income countries

http://www.religionsanddevelopment.org/index.php?section=1

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Mar 19, 2011

Dear Amy, Here in Cambodia we are working with a community forestry group called Sorng Rukavorn CF in Oddar Meanchey province. The community forestry(CF) initiative is composed of 6 villages and is facilitated and guided by a group of Buddhist monks, led by the Venerable Bun Saluth. He recently received the UN Equator Prize in recognition of his efforts. The CF area is by far the largest in the country (more than 18,000 hectares) and is very effectively managed primarily due to the efforts of the monks and the links they draw to Buddhist teachings to further motivate the protection efforts.

Pact is supporting Sorng Rukavorn as one of 13 community forestry groups in the province which are part of a REDD project. This project is seeking validation under both the Climate Community Biodiversity Alliance and the Verified Carbon Standard.

If you would like more information, please write to me at abradley@pactworld.org.

We Have produced a sermon sheet being distributed among community leaders in Guatemala including pastors. This is part of public awareness campaign for the protection of the watersheds.BestRafael

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Mar 21, 2011

Here in South Africa there is a very strong programme working on precisely this. Please contact Kate Davies on kated@sascei.org.za

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Mar 21, 2011

There is an organization called ‘Care of Creation’ which has offices here in Kenya among other countries. They link conservation activities to the overall vision of caring for God’s creation…see link: http://www.careofcreation.net/projects/kenya/

Anthony

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Apr 21, 2011

Hello - The FRAMEweb Team is following up on some of our discussions to find out if the information shared was useful. We're compiling some information about our work and the FRAMEweb site and would like to hear from you. Was this discussion useful? Did you learn anything knew? Did you find it helpful or informative? Please let me know - you can either post here, or send me an email! - Carmen

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Jul 19, 2011

The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) - with the assistance of Norwegian Church Aid, produced a report on the proposed mining of uranium in the mid-Zambezi Valley http://www.scribd.com/doc/38650866/Prosperity-Unto-Death-Is-Zambia-Ready-for-Uranium-Mining

One of their recommendations was for CCZ to champion the formation of an independent watch-dog group composed of representatives from the Private Sector, Civil Society, NGOs, Scientists and Medical Experts to champion the interests of the people affected by uranium mining operations. I am now in contact with them trying to discover their progress in forming the watchdog, but also to have them take under their wing the matter of a proposed copper mining project in the nearby Lower Zambezi National Park. And there are other seriously negative impacts on the land and its people which require attention.

The sudden and increasing activism of the Christian Church in Zambia in matters of the ethical stewardship of nature is highly significant,and when joined with what I hope is the ushering in of a new government having a sound Christian-based manifesto, there is real hope in the tunnel of this patrimonial state.